In search of the best restaurants in Bel Air, MD?
Bel Air is a town and the seat of Harford County, Maryland, United States. The town had a population of 10,715 in 2021.
Bel Air has built a reputation for being the extension of the prestigious Hamptons. It is called the heart of Hartford and is perceived as the safest city in Maryland.
It has an abundance of infrastructures and social amenities, including recreational places. The town is reputed as a quiet haven for the rich and famous.
Bel Air is one of the few nice neighborhoods used by marketers to sell the ‘American dream. Nevertheless, aside from the beautiful mansions (most of which are empty), expensive cars, and gated communities, the restaurants are also an important part of the Bel Air lifestyle.
Are you planning an exploration of Bel Air? Here are the top restaurants in Bel Air, MD.
Best Restaurants in Bel Air, MD
1. Savona
Savona is one of the best restaurants in Bel Air, MD. It is close to Main Street and Pennsylvania Avenue therefore it’s at a prominent spot that you can’t miss. The views from the glass windows of the restaurants reveal downtown Bel Air as you eat and drink.
Savona is an Italian restaurant that also offers international dishes and functions as a deli. Expect fine Italian foods served anytime you visit this restaurant. They mainly serve pasta, panini, salads, cheeseboards, side dishes, and soups.
Wine tasting is encouraged in Savona, and there’s free Wi-Fi. Italian wines, such as Chiantis, Pinot Grigio, Tignanello, and more are available for customers to taste. There are even experts to help you choose the type of wine they discern that you may like to enjoy at the moment. The variety of wines at Savona does stop at Italian-made wines. American, Brazilian, Argentina, Australian, and other international branded wines are available for your selection.
Address: 2 N Main St, Bel Air, MD 21014-3538 Phone: +1 410-803-0000
2. Sunny Day Café
This is one of the top restaurants in Bel Air, MD. They suitably offer fancy options in a mix with regular comfort foods. The menu shows that the restaurant mostly serves omelets, sandwiches, salads, seafood, and soups. There are meals for breakfast and brunch at Sunny Day Café.
It’s a place for a hungry man who wants to eat real food and yet is still a place for a Tick Tock influencer who wants fancy food. The coffee made at Sunny Day Café is reportedly a masterpiece, and so is the French toast. Avocado toast, scrapple, English muffin, and chicken and waffles are popular picks on the menu.
The environment in which you stay enjoying your meal is brightly colored, reflecting the energy of the city of Bel Air. The joint venture owners, John Smoudianis and Ilias Vassilaras, have been maintaining this family-owned restaurant for years.
Walking into the building or taking a seat outdoors infuses the feeling of being hospitably welcomed. The Sunny Day Café opens by 7 am and closes by 3 pm on a daily basis.
Address: 101 S Main St, Bel Air, MD 21014-3840 Phone: +1 410-877-9020
3. Conrad’s Crabs Market
Conrad’s Crabs and Seafood is one of the best places to eat in Bel Air, MD. It’s a convenient marketplace for residents to come buy fresh fish, crabs, and all kinds of seafood.
Inside is a restaurant featuring well-prepared seafood with a full bar offering all your daily lunch and dinner meals. They serve ‘point-and-kill’ whole fish, crabs, oysters, and other seafood, which are prepared with aromatic seasoning.
The founder Tony Conrad has been notorious in the past 19 years for his ability to catch the best quality fish. In fact, he was voted “Baltimore’s Best Crabs” for eight consecutive years (2014-2021) until last year.
This seafood market is one of the highest-rating places to buy seafood in Maryland. They operate from 10.30 am daily till 8 pm on Sunday to Thursday. However, they close by 8.30 pm on Fridays and Saturdays.
Address: 1207 Baltimore Pike, Bel Air, MD 21014-5106 Phone: +1 443-981-3477
4. Pairings Bistro
Pairings Bistro is an American Bistro with Mediterranean cuisine highlights and fine wine collections. The Bel Air restaurant has cozy and family-friendly surroundings.
Things to expect on their menu include crab soup, crab dip, shrimps & grits, cheese charcuterie, steaks, pairings mule, and cakes for desserts. The treats for appetizers and desserts could tempt one to forget the main meal here at Pairings Bistro.
Delicious flourless chocolate cake and cheesecake are special sweets for your gustatory pleasure. The chopped Caesar salad and chicken salads are also available at this fine restaurant. Similar to most restaurants in Bel Air, there is an option of dine-in, kerbside pickup, takeaway, and outdoor seating.
Pairings Bistro opens at 11 am every day and closes by 10 pm on weekdays and midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.
Address: 2105 Laurel Bush Rd Ste 108, Bel Air, MD 21015-6173 Phone: +1 410-569-5006
5. The Seafood Stop
The Crab Truck and Seafood Stop is a neighborhood market for buying fresh fish, crabs, shrimps, and oysters. Just like Conrad’s Crab Market, there is also a seafood restaurant for you to eat what you decide.
You can cook your crab and fish in the kitchen all by yourself or hire a chef to do so. But sometimes, visiting a restaurant like The Seafood Stop changes your culinary perspective. You can’t go wrong with this restaurant’s well-garnished seafood offerings.
Some of the seafood offerings include crab cakes, fried shrimps, crab soup, oysters, salads such as cole slaw, and sandwich specials. We love the pan-fried soft crabs, which is a classic Maryland dinner meal. It is nutritious and satisfactory.
If you want to visit, ensure to come between the operating hours of 10.30 am-8 pm daily.
Address: 1607 Belair Rd, Fallston, MD 21047, United States Phone: +1 410-877-2900
6. One Eleven Main
One Eleven is a classic American restaurant with cozy and intimate surroundings. It is a great place for dinner in Bel Air. It’s situated at an ideal location on Main Street, making it a go-to spot for the rich and famous living in Bel Air.
One Eleven Main is open for dine-in and outdoor seating if the weather is conducive. With its expansive menus, One Eleven Main is considered one of the outstanding Bel Air restaurants.
The braised short ribs served here are nothing short of perfection. The flavored ribs are beefy and soft to chew. We believe you will enjoy it as well.
Duck breasts, tomahawk steak, crab cake, grilled filet mignon, raw oysters, and other delicacies are also on the restaurant’s menu.
They are open from Tuesday to Saturday for all meals of the day. Customers are advised to book reservations through OpenTable as the restaurants serve a lot of dinner couples.
Address: 111 S Main Street, Bel Air, MD 21014, USA Phone: +1 443-900-8027
7. Liberatore’s Ristorante & Catering
Liberatore’s Ristorante & Catering operates in five locations nationwide. This restaurant has three branches in Maryland; Timonium, Perry Hall, and Bel Air. It is a family-owned business that has been operating smoothly for 32 years.
It is regarded as part of Baltimore’s own little Italy as it serves fine Italian food all year round. Since its founding in 2007, all delicious meals have been based on authentic family recipes made in Palena, Italy. Their salmon Nicola with parmesan risotto is delicious and a favorite for many first-timers.
Other foods you can be served include pasta, pizza, sandwiches, soups & salads, and one of their numerous Italian wine collections. Liberatore’s Ristorante & Catering service options include indoor and outdoor dining, curbside pickup, and order delivery.
Address: 562 Baltimore Pike, Bel Air, MD 21014 Phone: 410-838-9100
8. La Tolteca
This is one of the best places to eat in Bel Air, MD, for fine dining and date nights. If you want o have a fun night with your romantic party in a festive serene, then La Tolteca is the place to be. It serves wonderful Mexican food along with South American music & dance entertainment.
Mexican beers and margaritas never run out in this Bel Air restaurant. Grilled shrimp with rice and chicken chimichangas with rice and guacamole are two exceptional meals to order in La Tolteca. However, the menu highlights foods like soups, salads, tacos, burgers, sandwiches, nachos, fajitas, chips and salsa, and burritos.
Strawberry margarita is a popular flavor some customers love. But you’re free to pick the mango flavor or the classic margarita option. You can go with other flavored drinks after your meal or take ice cream and cake as desserts. La Tolteca is open 11 am-10 pm on weekdays and 12 pm-9 pm on weekends.
Address: Chruchville Road, 300 Baltimore Pike, Bel Air, MD 21014, USA Phone: +1 410-588-5975
Are you considering more exploration of Maryland? Here is our list of things to do in Easton and things to do in Rockville for a fun vacation.
9. Steelefish Grille
This may be different from your typical restaurant and bar, as Steelefish Grille is an upscale eatery on Boulton Street. They serve a variety of seafood, sandwiches, burgers, and steaks. You enjoy your food with live music in a vibrant social environment.
Pan-fried soft crabs are prepared and presented as crabby fries, which are delicious and crunchy. Eating that will give you immediate satisfaction with little space in your stomach to eat anything else. Some other interesting meal items include raw oysters on the half shell, calamari, grilled & glazed salmon, fish tacos, Maryland crab soup, broccoli, and sandwiches.
Steelefish Grille Seafood is undoubtedly one of the best Bel Air restaurants. It is a great place to eat seafood in a relaxed and sociable environment. Customers can keep updated with menu changes, special offers, and music schedules.
Address: 660 Boulton Street, Bel Air, MD 21014 Phone: +1 410-838-8770
10. Bonefish Grill
Bonefish Grill is a big restaurant company with specialties in preparing and serving grilled meat and seafood. It is one of the best places to eat grilled seafood and enjoy a barbeque.
This place serves a lot of seafood dishes, steaks, sandwiches, and cocktails. Among the many goodies on their menu, is one of the best lobster tails in downtown Bel Air. Out of curiosity, you may be tempted to try “Bang Bang Shrimp” or “Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos.” This time, you’ll be glad you were a curious cat because both of them are delicious.
This fine dining establishment opens by 11 am and closes at 10 pm every day. They sometimes close later than usual on Fridays and weekends as they may be more customers to cater to. Closing time on those days is 11 pm.
Address: 696 J, Belair Road, Bel Air, MD, USA Phone: +1 410-420-9113
11. Uncle’s Hawaiian Grindz
This is a special Hawaiian restaurant on Belair Road. Uncle’s Hawaiian Grindz is one of the best Bel Air restaurants for authentic Hawaiian food. The building has a relaxed café and a full bar filled with many tropical island drinks.
To think that you will have a hard time finding what food you’ll like is a fallacy. Because all foods here are extremely inviting and taste good. You can try their famous spam musubi or Hawaiian nachos. Those two seem to have their signature dishes as it is well appraised by all customers who walk in and out.
It might make this restaurant a 4-star Michelin restaurant someday in the category of Hawaiian cuisine. Uncle’s Hawaiian restaurant menu also offers the likes of loco moco, spiced fish, pulled pork, beef teriyaki, and our favorite menu item – Uncle’s mix plate. The latter is cooked with their special recipe and tastes uniquely delicious.
Address: 2315 Belair road, Suite 2B, Fallston, MD, USA Phone: +1 443-966-3999
12. Riverside Pub & Grille
This is a fantastic place to enjoy traditional pubs far, cocktails, and draft beer. Riverside Pub & Grill’s outdoor seating faces the Bush River, its marina, and Bush Declaration Natural Resources Management Area.
The environment is family and pet-friendly, which makes it perfect for a weekend outing. They serve burgers, sandwiches, beers, and seafood in a casual and relaxed setting. Since Riverside Pub & Grille is a family-owned restaurant, expect to eat home-cooked meals served hot from the kitchen’s pot.
Cream of crab soup and crab dip is something you should consider trying out if you haven’t. Aside from that, there are coconut shrimps, chicken tenders, hot dogs, fish & chips, and onion rings. This beautifully decorated restaurant opens by 11 am and closes late by 11 pm/12 am daily.
Address: 1402 Handlir Dr, Bel Air, MD 21015 Phone: +1 410-272-1486
13. Fuji sushi
Asian cuisine lovers in Bel Air! Fuji Sushi is your go-to restaurant for your favorite type of Asian food. There are quite a few Asian restaurants in Bel Air, MD, but Fuji Sushi stands out as the highest rated on online forums. There would only be one reason for that – the food is great!
There is a wide variety of raw fish and rolls, sushi, noodles, rice, and soups to pick from at Fuji Sushi. Speaking of rolls, you can choose either the Philadelphia roll or California roll, or both. Speaking of sushi, you can choose either sushi lunch, sushi sashimi, or classic (normal international) sushi.
If it gets confusing for you to decide which to eat, you can ask for help as the friendly waiter will surely assist. Else you just order fried rice and chicken as this is a staple meal in most parts of Asia and Africa.
The exterior and interior of the place carry a Thailand theme. You can’t go wrong with drinking Naruto maki after eating some sushi. Operating hours of this fine food establishment are 12-9 pm every day.
Address: 5 Bel Air S Pkwy b209, Bel Air, MD 21015 Phone: +1 410-569-4370
14. Barrett’s On The Pike
If you are a bit observant, you’ll notice that the name of the restaurant gives away the location. Yes, Barrett’s On The Pike is located on Baltimore Pike right in Bel Air town’s Center. It is a great place to grab food midday or have a proper dinner at night.
They offer a lot of lunch meals, either burgers or sandwiches. Nevertheless, you can still find seafood on the restaurant’s menu for dinner. Crab dip, shrimp escargot, and Caesar salad are good picks for a full-course dinner with your loved ones.
You can reserve at OpenTable, and order delivery is accepted if preferred. The staff opens by 10 am and closes by 10-11 pm every day of the week.
Address: 588 Baltimore Pike, Bel Air, MD Phone: +1 443-371-7516
15. Box Hill Crabcakes
Since 1984, this family-owned restaurant has served some of the best crabcakes in Maryland. Their delicious crabcakes are well done that they received an award recently. Thus, putting the Box Hill restaurant on the best restaurants in Maryland list in 2022.
A foodie in the Greater Baltimore Area can only do himself a favor by eating Box Hill’s crabcakes.
This fine seafood establishment is located in Abingdon, which is about 5-6 miles from Bel Air by foot or road.
Address: 2915 Emmorton Rd, Abingdon, MD 21009-1631 Phone: +1 410-515-3662
Map of the Best Restaurants in Bel Air, MD
To get around during your trip to Bel Air, here is a map of the best restaurants in Bel Air with markers of the top places to eat in Bel Air, MD.
Are you considering more exploration of Maryland? Here is our list of things to do in New Columbia, things to do in Towson and things to do in Hagerstown for a fun vacation.
Plan a Trip to Bel Air
There are quite some great places to have a fun meal time in Bel Air, regardless of your cravings.
If your are planning a trip to Bel Air, then the above Bel Air restaurants should be on your bucket list of places to visit.
Start planning your trip. A fun meal time awaits you!